Life of General Albert Sydney Johnston, embracing his services in the armies of the United States, the republic of Texas, and the Confederate States (1878) (14753914606)

Identifier: lifeofgeneralalb00john (find matches)
Title: Life of General Albert Sydney Johnston, embracing his services in the armies of the United States, the republic of Texas, and the Confederate States
Year: 1878 (1870s)
Authors: Johnston, William Preston
Subjects:
Publisher: New York : D. Appleton and company, 1878
Contributing Library: Houston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation



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stination, it would be only by aban-doning the greater part of their supplies and endangering the lives of many menamid the snows of the Rocky Mountains. Colonel Johnston felt and acceptedthe responsibility, determined, if possible, to reach his destination and to securethe expedition against disaster and perhaps destruction, which the rapidly-ap-proaching winter threatened. So much was a terrible disaster feared by thosewell acquainted with the rigors of a winter life in the Rocky Mountains, that Gen-eral Harney was said to have predicted it, and to have induced Governor Walker(of Kansas) to ask for his retention. The route was not then, as now, lined withsettlements and ranches, which would afford some comfort to man and beast. The narrow valleys, already grazed over by thousands of animals, yielded ascanty subsistence for his horses; yet he pushed on at the rate of from thirty•;ty miles a day, stopping at Forts Kearny and Laramie only time enoughto rest his teams—a day at each.
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MORMON HOSTILITIES. 211 On the 29th of September, on the South Fork of the Platte, GeneralJohnston received Captain Van Vliets report of his journey to SaltLake City, which was his first authentic information that actual organ-ized resistance by the Mormons might be expected. General Johnstongathered some 200 mounted men on the route, with whom he reenforcedLieutenant-Colonel C. F. Smith, and gave support to the supply-trains.General Porter says: Beyond Fort Laramie, rumors of trains destroyed and troops attacked reachedColonel Johnston. Van Vliets return with ill reports only tended to increasethe alarm along the route. Conductors of trains hesitated, and teamsters shirkedduty and delayed progress. Colonel Johnstons anxiety increased, yet his speedcould be no greater; bui, experienced on the Plains and of established reputa-tion for energy, courage, and resources, his presence restored confidence at allpoints, and encouraged the weak-hearted and panic-stricken multitude. Thelong chai